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Airstrips
The Safety Package includes audits of six airstrips along the Track – Manari, Kagi, Efogi, Naduri, Kokoda and Milei which will provide initial recommendations on safety equipment and improvements.
A larger-scale operational risk assessment on the Kokoda and Mt Koiari airstrips is being undertaken by the PNG Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This assessment will look at approaches and airstrip capacity, and is due to be completed in December 2009.
Roads and Bridges
Upgrading and maintaining well-used roads and bridges, particularly at the southern end of the Track, was identified in the transport study and discussions with industry as an important action to address safety.
Urgent upgrades and maintenance to improve the Depo to Owers' Corner Road and nearby bridges are being carried out. Repairs to the Sogeri Road Bridge will be undertaken by the PNG National Department of Works.
Radio Network
Communication in this remote and rugged area of Papua New Guinea is a challenge. Ensuring access to radio communications along the Track assists community development and service delivery and is vital to the safety of trekkers.
Major repairs have been undertaken on the radio tower at Mt Gala and new radio equipment has been purchased. Information on current radio conditions along the track and priorities for repairs and upgradeds is being collated. This will be used to develop a five-year rolling work plan to progress upgrades.
Future work
A second tranche of measures is being developed by PNG and Australian governments, communities and stakeholders to identify further major works needed to improve roads, airstrips, communications and access to safety information. These will be informed by further consultations with industry and communities and the results of technical studies focusing on airstrips (including upgrade options) and further road and bridge upgrades.
Sustainable Livelihoods – Micro-business Support Project – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the aim of the micro-business support project?
- The micro-business support project aims to help communities in the Kokoda Track and Owen Stanley Ranges region set up businesses that provide sustainable income generation, particularly in relation to tourism.
- The PNG Government has requested that the project focus on market-based micro-business development opportunities along the Kokoda Track corridor, and primarily on tourism and rural enterprises associated with the existing trekking industry.
How will micro-business projects be implemented?
- The PNG and Australian governments agreed the next phase of the micro-business project will focus on training and capacity building for communities to take up market-based micro-business opportunities.
- The first stage of implementation will be done through pilot projects along the Track
- Training will be provided in basic business planning, business operations and improving understanding of the client base. This will be followed by technical training such as in guesthouse management, food preparation and food hygiene.
- This will help communities to learn how to identify opportunities that will work in their village and set up small businesses to assist them in accessing sustainable income into the future
- This approach was endorsed by PNG's Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu during a meeting with the Australian Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Kokoda, Sandy Hollway, in July 2009.
When will implementation begin?
- Pilot project implementation will commence in early 2010 before the next trekking season and peak agricultural demand.
- During the trekking season a large proportion of men are employed as guides and porters and, as a result, women and youth are also busier at this time. After initial training, communities will determine the timing and pace and implementation of their selected projects.
Where will the projects be piloted?
- The Australian Government and the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) are working with communities identified as priorities for pilot projects, including Naoro 1 & 2.
- As in all programs under the Kokoda Initiative, the consent, commitment and participation of landowners and communities is vital. In this case, it is particularly important communities feel they are ready to receive training and to start process before projects are implemented.
- The first pilots will most likely be delivered in Naoro 1 & 2. Naoro is the community most affected by the PNG Government decision not to approve th e Mt Kodu mine and will benefit greatly from taining and access to potential income generation opportunities.
Why is the micro-business project being piloted?
- Rolling out the project along the Kokoda Track and possibly the broader Owen Stanley Ranges region will be a major undertaking, requiring significant resources from governments.
- Piloting the project before rolling out to the broader region will assit in ensuring that the micro-business projects are embedded, as much as possible, into PNG systems.
- As micro-business projects occasionally cause unintended oucomes such as increased conflict between community groups or increased domestic violecne, undertaking pilots can identify consequences that can be addressed in the formal design and broader implementation.
- Also, because micro-businesses have a high failure rate, by reviewing and incorporation success factors identified in pilot businesses, there will be a better change of increased success rate in phase 3, the major roll out.
How will micro-business projects be coordinated?
- It has been agreed by lead agencies in PNG and Australia that the micro-business pilot project will be delivered through the KTA, with ongoing strategic advice and assistance from the Australian Government.
- This includes funding a micro-business project officer in the KTA to work closely with Track communities as pilots and opportunities become available and ready to progress.
- As the KTA is mandated to deliver only to KTA Wards, it is also proposed that in parallel PNG's Department of Environment and Conservation be encouraged and assisted to find a mechanism to support non-KTA Ward communities in the broader catcment area who have shown interest and initiative in generating income from tourism or agriculture.
Who else is involved in the implementation of the micro-business project?
- This project aims to work together with the tourism operators and philanthropic organisations that have been encouraging Kokoda micro-businesses for many years.
- The project will work closely with PNGH Government agencies such as the Department for Community Development, and Provincial and District Administrations.
- As food security was identified through the phase 1 Livelihoods Study as an area of risk, the National Agricultural Research Institute will participate in this project ot support communities to improve yields both for their own needs and also to improve surplus product for sale to trekkers.
Who undertook the livelihoods study (phase 1) and who was consulted?
- In May 2009, the Kokoda Track Foundation, in partnership with the University of Technology, Sydney, were contracted by the Australian Government to undertake the first phase of the project (the Livelihoods Study).
The study team included:
- Team Leader: Associate Professor Stephen Wearing, University of Technology, Sydney and Board Member, Kokoda Track Foundation
- Team Director: Dr Genevieve Nelson, Executive Director, Kokoda Track Foundation
- Mr Sandy Lawson, Agricultural Scientist, Extension expert
- Ms Simone Grabowski, University of Technology, Sydney
- Mr Creek Price, Entrepreneur and small business expert
- From May to June 2009, the study team, accompanied by PNG Government officials, engaged with key stakeholders including communities and trek operators to identify existing and potential opportunities and to develop a concept for a pilot-scale rural micro-business scheme along the Track corridor.
What did phase 1 of the livelihoods project achieve?
- Phase 1 provided an assessment of key issues on income generation including demand and supply, labour availability, gender, food security and resource and training needs.
- The report provided an analysis of existing micro-business ventures and the gap between supply side (communities) and demand side (trekkers) needs and expectations.
For more information
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts – Email Address Contact Details, please click directly below:
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